Mountain ranges, gorgeous coastlines, green spaces, and national parks with wildlife and unique flora make South Africa one of the most beautiful places on earth. I should know, I lived there for a year. But living there versus visiting as a tourist provides very different experiences, because as a tourist you only see the best of the country, whereas as a resident you notice the racial inequality, remnants of the apartheid system that lasted from 1948 to 1992.
Apartheid had profound consequences, such as political, social, and economic issues, still ongoing today. As such, it’s important to know some facts about South Africa before you visit, to ensure a responsible and mindful trip, whether you’re heading on a safari in Kruger National Park or exploring Cape Town for its beaches, penguins, and mountains.
Insider tip: If you’re visiting and staying in Cape Town, I recommend staying in Mouille Point, Three Anchor Bay, Sea Point, or around Camps Bay. These are the most scenic spots, and relatively safe. I lived in Mouille Point with views over Green Point Park, and it was the neighbourhood I felt the safest in.
South Africa (ZA) is the southernmost part of the African continent, and a somewhat popular destination among tourists these days, though it was not always so. During the apartheid regime, most of the world condemned and opposed the extreme racial discrimination that was taking place in the country, and there were heavy sanctions and boycotts at the time. Today, apartheid is officially over, though the dire repercussions, such as ethnic conflict and discrepancies in housing and educational opportunities, are still very much present.
Nonetheless, South Africa has become a popular tourist destination thanks to the safari options and the beautiful landscapes.
There are 12 official languages in South Africa: English, Afrikaans, Tswana, Swati, Venda, Tsonga, Ndebele, Xhosa, Zulu, Pedi, Sotho, and South African Sign Language.
Sotho and Tswana are part of the Bantu language, while Zulu, Xhosa, Nba, and Swati are part of the Nguni language.
The most widely spoken ones are English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, and Zulu. English is used widely in politics, media, and business.
When I lived in ZA in 2017, someone jokingly told me that if I didn’t speak Afrikaans, I shouldn’t bother speaking at all. Unfortunately, the idea that Afrikaans is the main (or most important) language in South Africa still exists, but that’s just not true.
South Africa is ethnically and culturally diverse. The country is made up of white minorities (English South Africans and Afrikaaners who are of Dutch descent), Coloured (mixed black and white), and Asian (Indians who came as indentured labourers under British rule, and Muslims from Southeast Asia, primarily Indonesia and Malaysia, who came as slaves and are called Cape Malays).
The Rand is South Africa’s currency, denominated by “ZAR” or the letter R.
South Africa’s main economic sources are agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining for mineral products, manufacturing (e.g., textiles), finance, and tourism.
South Africa is a parliamentary democratic republic where the government has sole authority on executive decisions.
They drive on the left, the same as in the UK.
South Africa is divided into the following provinces: Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal, North West, Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape.
Cape Town is the capital of Western Cape and also the legislative capital of South Africa, while Johannesburg is the capital of Gauteng.
Pretoria, also in Gauteng, is the administrative capital of ZA.
Bloemfontein, in Free State, is the judicial capital of ZA.
People visit South Africa for wildlife (safaris, whale watching, sharks), beaches and watersports like kite surfing and surfing, and landscapes and iconic sites, such as Table Mountain.
Also, fun fact about South Africa: you can find penguins there, particularly the “jackass” penguin, endemic to South Africa, found at Boulder’s Beach in Cape Town.
Eco tip: give the penguins plenty of space. Don’t approach or try to pet them, and don’t feed them.
One of the most important things to know about South Africa is that there’s low to no risk of malaria in most of the country, except in Mpumalanga (including Kruger National Park), parts of Limpopo provinces, and north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal. Even then, Malaria is a concern mostly during the warmer months, that is, between September and May.
You will often hear or see the word “lekker”. This is an Afrikaan word that came from Dutch, and it means the same in both languages: pleasing and tasty. In South Africa, lekker is often used to imply that something is cool and enjoyable.
“Now” in South Africa does not mean now. For instance, Saffas (South Africans) in Cape Town will often say bye by saying “see you now” which means see you later, and later can mean anything.
Here are all the variations of the word “now” in South Africa.
The funniest part of this, though, is that some Saffas might still disagree on some of these, particularly “just now” and “now now”. The meaning of “now”, however, is nationally agreed upon.
When someone says “shame” in South Africa, it doesn’t literally mean shame or that you should feel ashamed. The word is used as a filler word, but also often as a response to express things like empathy, sarcasm, or simply to participate casually in a conversation.
“Robot” in South Africa means traffic lights. Interestingly, in Mauritius, we also say robot, but in Creole, and I’m not sure it’s related to any kind of influence from South Africa. Zambia and Namibia apparently also use this term.
Ubuntu is an African philosophy that expresses the idea that “I am because we are”. This ties together connectedness, empathy, and humanity.
After apartheid was abolished, Nelson Mandela (the first black President of South Africa post-apartheid, who was imprisoned for 27 years for fighting against apartheid) emphasised the practice of ubuntu in healing and creating national unity. Ubuntu influences the legal system in South Africa, too.
Make sure to follow the proper customs in South Africa upon meeting someone new. When you greet someone, it’s a handshake, though some people do a handshake and also give one kiss on the cheek. Some communities (e.g. Cape Malays) just nod and smile, especially with the opposite sex, as most are Muslim.
Tipping is customary in South Africa, and is usually around 10%. People in the service industry rely on those tips.
South Africa is big on wildlife and nature conservation, particularly anti-poaching, habitat preservation, and environmental protection. While there are still plenty of unethical activities like petting and feeding elephants, South Africa usually emphasises animal welfare and safety.
English South Africans and Afrikaaners are generally more strict about punctuality compared to black South Africans, who tend to have a more relaxed perspective about time.
South Africa has unique and gorgeous landscapes, from national parks where you can find wildlife to long coastlines from Durban to Cape Town.
Table Mountain in Cape Town is the most famous landmark in South Africa. One of the 7 natural wonders of the world, a large part of the mountain looks flat, hence the name “table.” There are multiple hiking trails, too, from beginner to advanced levels.
Food in South Africa is fresh, delicious, and quite diverse. While there’s plenty of Western influence, one of the most famous authentic South African dishes is bobotie, a minced meat dish topped with a layer of cooked egg. Other notable mentions include biltong (dried, cured meat, consumed as snacks), and bunny chow, a loaf of white bread filled with curry in the middle.
South Africa’s national animal is the springbok, a type of antelope. South Africa’s national rugby team is called The Springboks.
ZA’s national flower is the king protea, and the country’s national cricket team is named after the flower.
South Africa is not necessarily the safest if you’re comparing it to countries like Portugal, because you always have to stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings and belongings. Cape Town is one of the safest cities in South Africa, though I personally know lots of people who were robbed and assaulted there. It’s still fine to visit, even as a solo female traveller, just always be on your toes, and don’t venture out alone at night or in quiet places (best to join tours if you want to explore).
